"If I have 50 notifications on Twitter, 40 of them will be from the fans of Everton asking what is happening." - Gerard Deulofeu.
COMMENT: As a football fan, don't ever think you can't make a difference. Need proof? Just consider Gerard Deulofeu and his decision to return to Everton last week.
This deal is a triumph for Everton fans - and the positive use of Twitter.
The social media tool can be used to lift someone up - or tear someone down. In Deulofeu's case, it was the former. And ALL credit should go to every Everton fan who followed and interacted with Deulofeu on Twitter last season.
The now former Barcelona winger had a tough time of it at Sevilla. He couldn't break into coach Unai Emery's line-up - and when he was given a chance, off the bench, struggled to make an impact.
The message from Blues fans, so disappointed that Deulofeu left them last summer, could have gone one of two ways - and to their credit, it was all positive.
The wind-up merchants, droning on 'you should never have left us' and 'you've blown your career', either never found their way through or were drowned out by the thousands of Blues who would tweet Deulofeu every week with positive messages.
They've become a community - a support group - inside Deulofeu's Twitter account.
Such backing, especially when a player isn't getting a game, is always welcome and made up Deulofeu's mind when he sat down with his family last month and decided it was time to cut ties with Barca.
An Everton return seemed obvious. But they weren't the only offer on the table and having turned down the chance to return to Goodison Park last season, Deulofeu could easily have chosen to continue his career in Spain. Celta Vigo, Real Betis and Malaga were among 6-8 La Liga clubs eager to keep him at home.
But what obviously swung it was Twitter and the consistent support of Everton fans, week-after-week, last season. These fans made the difference. Without their lead, its unlikely Roberto Martinez could've persuaded Deulofeu to not only give Everton another try, but to throw his lot in with the club by signing a permanent deal.
It's a transfer that wouldn't have happened without social media. The weight of positive and supportive words from Everton fans was the deciding factor. All achieved because both player and supporter embraced the positive use of Twitter.
On the same day Deulofeu was highlighting the impact Everton's fans had made upon him, Petr Cech was having to respond to Chelsea 'fans', some of which had made death threats over his move to Arsenal.
Roman Abramovich, Chelsea's owner, had granted Cech control of his destiny as a 'thank-you' for his 11 years of service. Yet, that wasn't enough for some on social media. It's a shame that Cech's final hours as a Chelsea player were spent having to move in the sewer that Twitter can sometimes be.
But no such issues for Deulofeu. Indeed, if he had any doubts, they were quickly quelled by the reaction of his long-term Everton fans upon the announcement of his return. Young fans in Deulofeu shirts. Babies in Deulofeu shirts! Just 25 appearances in a Toffees kit, but it was the return of a hero.
And all made possible by those positive, passionate Everton tweeters.
“This is where I feel happy, this is where I feel like I am loved by the fans. The fans support me – they always send me messages, so this was where I wanted to come back to.”
@gerardeulofeu First person in Liverpool with your name with the new top #HesMagicYouKnowpic.twitter.com/ihQkhEGLha
— Hobo (@hobo1878) June 25, 2015My 2 year old is the first to get your name @gerardeulofeu made up you have signed you just need a number pic.twitter.com/kTyCOFjn9W
— Sean Powell (@seanpowell18781) June 25, 2015
